Under-17 World Cup: USA vs. Malawi (Matchday Commentary)

The U.S. Under-17 men's national team takes the field today looking to rebound from its Under-20 World Cup opening loss to Spain. The Americans take on Malawi (11am, ESPNU) knowing that a loss would cripple their chances to progress.

The U.S. team didn't play terribly against Spain, but its 2-1 loss was still extremely disappointing considering the fact that it held a man advantage for 88 minutes and squandered a handful of clear chances. Malawi lost to the United Arab Emirates, 2-0, in its opening match.

I will be providing commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump).

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FINAL– The United States will close out group play on Sunday against the United Arab Emirates. Kickoff is set for 10am. Be sure to check in to SBI for matchday commentary on that match. For now, feel free to share your thoughts on today's match after the jump. Thanks for folowing along.

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FINAL– USA 1, Malawi 0. A rather weak performance by the United States is aided by one of the worst goalkeeper blunders you will see. A win is a win, but the Americans will need much better to advance past the group stage, much less do some damage in the group stage.

69th Minute– I know I said no drinking games, but anyone watching this game deserves some coffee to help stay awake. So a swig of coffee for every: Malawi offside, McInerney missed shot and goalkeeper blunder from here on out. That should wake everybody up.

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66th Minute– Carlos Martinez is in for Alex Shinsky.

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65th Minute– Carlos Martinez is coming into the match. Maybe now we'll see some spark to this American attack.

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63rd Minute– Another Malawi sub. Watts gives up a bad corner kick.

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62nd Minute– Gil is definitely skillful on the ball, but we haven't seen nearly as much from him as I would have thought.

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61st Minute– Malawi makes a sub, out comes a guy with ten offside calls against him, in comes a guy named Patience. No, really.

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60th Minute– Gil sends a great pass across goal, but nobody is there. Americans wasting so many chances.

53rd Minute– You know it's a bad game when the most impressive person on the field is the referee.

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52nd Minute– Free kick from far out for the USA. Busacca doesn't miss a thing.

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49th Minute– Malawi tries one from distance, but it's well high. Still a bit scary because you get the feeling Malawi will find one.

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48th Minute– A sequence that sums up the USA attack. Gil to McInerney, to nobody because he's triple-teamed.

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47th Minute– If the Americans don't find the net by the 60th minute, Cabrera has to consider inserting Martinez and/or Jerome.

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46th Minute– Shinsky's early shot is blocked for a corner.

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46th minute– And we're back.

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HALFTIME– So what's the deal with the USA attack (Seinfeld voice)? The midfield just isn't generating much. Shinsky's got a good motor, but doesn't really create dangerous chances, and Gil faded a bit in the second part of the first half. McInerney is being forced to drop back looking for some service, which is limiting his effectiveness. Wilmer Cabrera may be forced to remove Palodichuk for a more dynamic midfielder like Carlos Martinez, who has the creative spark and quickness to create some chances for Gil and McInerney.

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HALFTIME– USA 0, Malawi 0. Americans controlled most of the first half, but don't score. Malawi has to be happy.

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45th Minute– One minute of stoppage.

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43rd Minute– WOW, USA dodged a bullet, Malawi with a clear look in the area but it's blocked by Zavaleta.

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40th Minute– A Chavez ball in is caught easily by the keeper. Chavez has some good size, and decent quickness, but just isn't doing much to create space for himself.

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38th Minute– Malawi tries to dive for a penalty but Busacca's better than that.

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37th Minute– USA needs something offensively, something a bit more dynamic up top. Stefan Jerome had his chance vs. Spain and missed his chances, while sources tell me John Agudelo isn't in the best standing with head coach Wilmer Cabrera. Not sure where the spark will come from, but the Americans need one ASAP.

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35th Minute– Malawi threatens with a pass in the penalty area, but the USA avoids the danger despite Edwards getting caught off his line. Telling you, the longer this stays scoreless, the more you get the feeling Malawi will steal one and take a lead.

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32nd Minute– McInerney goes wide with a header. Not a bad look, but still not enough to really trouble Malawi.

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31st Minute– We're a third into this game and the Americas have controlled play, but have nothing to show for it. Not a good sign.

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29th Minute– Almost every Malawi possession ends in an offside call or weak shot from distance.

Anyone know the webpage where it’s being broadcast outside of ESPN360.com (legal disclaimer, I just want to make sure I don’t accidently watch it on that webpage so I can block it–wouldn’t want to break any laws).

Odd that Kitchen was the captain last game according to the US matchtracker, but was subbed at half and not playing today. And I am surprised Martinez hasn’t been given a chance, I thought he was one of the top players.

Who writes the little chatter the announcer give? It’s like my granddad going on about the age of people nowadays… “how old is cousin Timmy nowadays, Rory?” “He’s 12 gramps.” “12? wow… I thought he was younger” “Nope gramps, he’s still 12, just like he was last week when you asked me.”

Its blatantly obvious that US teams at all ages are clearly inferior technically to other nations. While we are usually more athletic and well oraganized, our simple technical abilities are attrocious. It could not be more frustrating.

as a parent who had a son who played in ODP it became obvious that the youth systems play too many games and do very little technical training. My son’s traveling team would practice twice a week then play 5-6 games in a weekend tournament. The other factor in my opinion is that American kids don’t grow up playing 2v2 and 3v3 pickup games like kids do elsewhere. I now live in Honduras and the kids here play little pickup games all day and develop awesome individual technical abilities.

Just so you guys know… I’ve liveblogging my 3:00 Lecture on the history of witchcraft accusations in Europe and Ives has agreed to totally dominate the comment section with snarky comments and general ass-foolitry. Just thought it would be fair and all.

My 2 cents — Without question, the best American out there is Tyler Polak. I can’t remember ever being that impressed with a USA left back…ever. Is 2014 too soon to get him into the USMNT program?

The rest of the team: Jared Watts looks like he will develop into a strong CB. He can defend, and he’s confident with the ball. I’m having a hard time finding positives to add about others. Edwards could be a good goalie. Chavez clearly has the athletic ability and soccer skills, but his decision-making was terrible. McInerney – hard to say. Has some skills and decent positioning sense. His shooting isn’t very good, but maybe that will come. Craven’s touch was abominable. Hope he was having an off day, because otherwise it’s hard to see what he’s doing at this level. Gil isn’t nearly as good as advertised. Duran has some serious ball skills, but how far can he go at that size? You have to a magician with the ball to make up for not being able to play in the aerial game.

Rongen had better got on a plane and start mending fences with Lletget, Gyau and Renken. We’ll need them in the fold, as these guys mature. Start with the U20s.

“In other news, the New York RedBull have just signed Malawii’s goalkeeper.”

Uh, Rory, what? NY’s problem has never been in goal. In fact, historically they have typically had the best GKs in the league. If you had DC United, it might have been an mildly funny and relevant point, but instead you made a lame and worthless point.

Two players really stood out. Polak and Palodichuk. Everyone else was ‘bleh’. Even Gil was disappointing… I liked his close-quarters play and skill but his passing, decisions, and off the ball runs were less than adequate.

Just to comment further… Malawi looked very bright against UAE…UAE scored on two extreme long range bombs… Malawi was the better team in that match… hopefully the US shreds UAE and moves on…the confidence to score will come eventually.

I was in class while this game was being played, so I can’t make any visual verdicts, but it sounds from the commentary as though the boys held possession fairly well. Even if their bite in the final third was lacking, I think this is a pretty good sign. If these guys can get into a decent professional set-up and get good coaching they can learn that final ball. One thing we consistently complain about on here watching the senior team play is that the mid-field does a poor job in possession. Two games in a row from the young ones holding possession bodes well, even if it was against Malawi and a ten man Spain. Lets see how they do on possession against the UAE.